Misc

Motorcycle Grand Prix

Marquez Move Inspired By Rossi

Marc Marquez admitted he would be just as angry as Jorge Lorenzo if the situation at the final corner of Sunday's Spanish MotoGP at Jerez was reversed.

But the MotoGP rookie insisted it would be the loss of a position, rather than the manner of the overtake, that would leave him feeling aggrieved.

Marquez dramatically snatched second place from the reigning world champion, in front of their home fans, by diving for the inside under braking at the newly renamed 'Jorge Lorenzo Corner' no less.

The pair made contact at the apex, with Lorenzo bumped wide while Marquez accelerated to the finish line.

Yamaha rider Lorenzo conceded he had made a mistake - “I thought Marquez was further behind so I didn't take a defensive line” - but was clearly still angry and refused multiple requests to talk further about the incident.

“I'm angry after losing second place in the last corner, so it is better not to say anymore.”

Marquez, who became MotoGP youngest winner at the previous Austin round and now leads the world championship by three points over Pedrosa, expressed some sympathy - but insisted it was a typical last-lap racing incident.

“Sure I would be angry,” said Marquez, when asked how he would feel if it happened to him. “I'm younger than Jorge and maybe I would be angry also, if not for the pass then because I lose one place. I think that would make me more angry than the pass.

“I saw he opened the door and I go in. In the past many passes were quite similar. For me it is just a race. I just tried to do my 100 percent. Last lap, last corner. If someone does it to me, sure I would be angry because I lose one position.”

It may not have been for victory, but Marquez's move was the latest in a series of memorable Jerez showdowns at the final turn - most notably the Rossi-Gibernau 2005 clash and Doohan-Criville 1996 incident.

Marquez, renowned for harsh racing in the 125 and Moto2 classes, had studied them all.

“I saw many times on the videos you can overtake at the last corner. I remember Valentino and many riders. I just tried to do the same,” he said.